Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-23
THE SEDUCTIVE GAME.
The DcmOralizing Effect of Poke el
When PLAYED On wind.

1 am credibly informed that it is
the intention of the Harvard faculty
to promulgate an edict, when the fall
term of the college opens few days
hence, prohibiting indulgence in the
vicissitudinous but seductive g anne OF
draw poker within the classic precincts
of the university. 1t is with deep
regret that the step is contemplated
by the college authorities, who fully
appreciate the educational value of
this noble paslime. The problems it
affords are well worthy the attention
of the mathematician, while the
student of moral philosophy cannot
fail to discover in it a profitable field
for speculation. This, however, is
true only when it is played strictly
for cash. Otherwise its influence is
baleful and perniciou-. So it has
proved, at any rate, at Harvard,
" where the wind style of game obtained
such prevalence last year as to give
rise to painful scandals. If gambling
with money is Objectionable, as many
godly persons assert, gambling with
out money is in the very last degree
immoral, not to say damnable.
Let us take case in illustration.
Freshman B. is fond of poker, but is
not very well supplied with cash. AS
is the Case with many other young
men, however, financial obligations
which are susceptible of indefinite
postponement do not occasion him
much uneasiness. In order to play
ready money is not necessary, "honor
among gentlemen" being regarded as
satisfactory substitute. So, under
the conditions, young B. takes a hand
in little game with u few carefully
selected acquaintances, whose
pecuniary resources are no greater
than his own. Promises to pay being
cheap, the betting is done on scale
far beyond the means ofthe gamesters,
who fix the limit at ~ instead of 10
cents, which would be about the
proper figure. 1t is cheerful thing
to see hall dozen youthful under
graduates, equipped with $l.5O apiece
per week for pocket money and Incl
dentals, poking away at SIS jackpots
during the leisure hours obtained by
sick excuses from recitations, while
the washerwomen storm the dormitory
for the settlement of accounts long
unpaid. One or two of the players
win steadily-it is always so in every
poker party-and the others before
many weeks are hopelessly in debt.
The gambling thereupon becomes
more and more reckless, the medium
employed being |. .. Ups. exclusively,
until it has lost its interest through
the palpabIe impossibility OF liquida-
ton. At this point things generally
smash up, with all sorts of unpleasant
consequences. Such is "wind" poker.
1t is a pity that the Harvard faculty
cannot drive it out, without including
in its prohibition the legitimate game.
Like most luxuries proper, it is ex-
pensive. In all my life have known
hut three or four men who could say
that on the whole they were ahead O.
it. Most people who play it would
in my view, do much better to con
fine their attention to mumblety-peg
at which they could not very we'll los,
ANYTHING more than u couple of from
teeth. Their notion of the gam,
seems chiefly to consist in bettin
cautiously when luck is with them
for fear of an adverse turn, and i
plunging heavily when their carl
run badly. Their losses they invaris
bly, attribute to ill-luck. l have neve
yet met a poker-player who did nj
consider himself an expert. 1t is
weakness in which l have myse
shared. Such confidence did l at Oh
time entertain in my dexteriy
manipulating the pasteboards that
sought, deliberately and in cold bloo'
a swell poker dive in New York, wit
the intention Of cleaning it out. I'll
, cleaning out was accomplished, bl
the poker dive was not the victim.
cost me three nights sleep and S2a
to find out that L did not stand
, ghost of show against the proprie ,ol
who dealt marked cards, and stooi u
, with two other players. But the OK
! perience was worth the money
} Minneapolis Tribune.